Plans have been made for the AN-225 – the world’s largest plane – to be rebuilt, after it was destroyed at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has a beautiful and diverse landscape. It’s known for being the largest country in Europe (not including Russia) and its national dish is borscht, a well known beet soup. But what you might not have known is that, up until Russia’s invasion at the beginning of 2022, Ukraine was also home to the world’s largest plane.
The destruction of this plane, for lovers of Big Metal Things, was heartbreaking – one of those images from the start of the invasion that was blasted all around the world. Before we go any further, you might like to know the name of this jet.
It’s called the Antonov AN-225, and it was attacked at its base in Hostomel, near Kyiv in February. There are now plans to rebuild it, however, with the manufacturers now suggesting they are going to make good on their promise “the dream will never die” which they made when it was destroyed.
The manufacturers have now said that plans to rebuild the Antonov AN-225 have begun. So, how big was it exactly? The Antonov AN-225 was 84 metres long and had the longest wingspan of any operational plane. It was the heaviest aircraft ever built. Why so huge? The Antonov AN-225 was built in the 1980s to carry the Soviet space shuttle.
The wings and engine had also reportedly been badly damaged, while the tail section has escaped major destruction.
This week, however, on November the 8th, the Antonov Company tweeted that the rebuild process is now underway, claiming to have 30% of the parts needed to build a new plane and saying “design work in this direction has begun.” The Antonov Company projected a bill of over €500 million (AUD $771 million) to get it fully operational again, promising more information “after the victory.”
There you have it. Good news for aviation geeks, that’s for sure.
